Even on many new vehicles a clay bar and polish can be warranted, but it really comes down to your preference and goals. The Brinkmann Maxfire Dual Xenon Swirl Finder Spotlight is a great tool to use to see how many swirls and surface imperfections are really in the paint. Without the proper lighting it's really hard to tell. If you wipe down the surface with a little bit of rubbing alcohol you can also remove the sealant or wax for even greater clarity.

Any new product combos from detailed image recommended for alpine white. Not interested in orbital buffing, want to do hand. Will start with clay and lube. Vehicle is 2011. Light scratches. No significant swirl marks. Any input appreciated, look forward to purchasing from DI.

I've heard great things about the Glacier on white vehicles. I used Zaino with a few coats of Collinite 476 on my white GT-R and it looked incredible, especially at night. NO WAX for anything short of an exotic is worth $200.

do you guys realize some of these "exotic" waxes are above 50/70 bucks for a little container? Is this women's perfume? wtf are these companies like dodo or swissvax (with their silly door sill sticker) thinking?? Put zaino on and call it a day!

do you guys realize some of these "exotic" waxes are above 50/70 bucks for a little container? Is this women's perfume? wtf are these companies like dodo or swissvax (with their silly door sill sticker) thinking?? Put zaino on and call it a day!

Zaino user here for 12+ years. Nothing is better for the price, and it's super easy to apply and remove. The newer stuff doesn't even require removal. I put this on my 335 in the parking garage at the Welt with 0 miles on the car, and had a great result driving in the Alps on wet roads.

Any new product combos from detailed image recommended for alpine white. Not interested in orbital buffing, want to do hand. Will start with clay and lube. Vehicle is 2011. Light scratches. No significant swirl marks. Any input appreciated, look forward to purchasing from DI.

I'd recommend a two step combination for this situation with an AIO and wax combo. The Optimum Poli-Seal is a polish and sealant in one that will help remove very light surface imperfections and add a coating of protection. The Poli-Seal is also an amazing value considering you only need about one ounce per coat. For extra gloss, depth and protection on alpine white paint I'd still suggest the Dodo Juice Diamond White Hard Wax or the Chemical Guys XXX Hard Core Paste Wax (great value). Both options make the paint look overly glossy and almost "wet". I think the Dodo Juice wax has a bit more protection and just a tiny bit more depth to the gloss but both are excellent. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll be happy to help.

I can personally attest to what Greg said, though my process was a bit different. After M105/orange/Flex@6, M205/white/flex@6, PO85RD/red/1200rpm, I tried cquartz for the first time (amazing stuff), leveled off and cured for 24 hours. After one year and checking w/ a light, I still have almost zero swirls, and zero marks anywhere, with regular washing, and even one *GASP* trip to the car wash (a steam wash admittedly, at a detail-oriented place). All I do after that is use Dodo Juice Diamond White, and the car looks soaking wet, and it lasts for about 2.5 months (car is parked indoors). So besides weekly washing, all I do is remove the wax every other month or so, and reapply. I tried light fantastic as well, which is a very nice wax, but I prefer the look of the Diamond White, and it definitely lasts longer. I should also mention that my detailing nut friends have all pretty much dumped everything they had previously used on light cars in favor of the Diamond White, and they all pretty much are using either cquartz or Opti Coat underneath on everything now.

Oh yeah, I should also say that I pity the fool who attempts to polish by hand...get a DA. You won't get anywhere by hand.

Never ever use dish detergent on your car paint as so many dish soaps contain bleach or acids to cut grease and food stains on your plates and cups. Think about it. When was the last time you had fruit juice or egg yokes on your paint? How about acid like oranges, tomato sauce, or coffee sitting on your car paint surface?